- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Lodi Today
By the People, for the People
Passaic County Man Charged with Violent Home Invasion and Rape in Lodi
Suspect has history of domestic violence and strangulation charges, police say.
Published on Feb. 10, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A 27-year-old Passaic County man has been accused of breaking into an acquaintance's home in Lodi, New Jersey and raping her at knifepoint. The victim reported that the suspect, Valentino Tusha, woke her up by assaulting her and cutting her face. Tusha has a history of domestic violence and strangulation charges, according to court records.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing issue of domestic violence and the need for stronger measures to protect victims. The suspect's history of violent charges raises concerns about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in preventing repeat offenses.
The details
According to the police affidavit, Tusha broke into the victim's home, woke her up, and ordered her to undress at knifepoint. He then raped the victim and cut her face during the assault. Tusha then fled the scene, throwing the knife in some nearby bushes, where police later recovered it. A SWAT team assisted in Tusha's arrest in his hometown of Prospect Park.
- The home invasion and sexual assault occurred on Sunday in Lodi, New Jersey.
- Tusha was arrested the same day with the help of the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team.
- Tusha had a court appearance on Tuesday and was scheduled for a remote hearing on Thursday morning.
The players
Valentino Tusha
A 27-year-old man from Passaic County, New Jersey who is accused of breaking into an acquaintance's home, assaulting her, and raping her at knifepoint.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella
The prosecutor who announced Tusha's charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, first-degree home invasion burglary, and third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Thursday whether or not to allow Valentino Tusha out on bail.
The takeaway
This violent home invasion and sexual assault underscores the critical need for the criminal justice system to take stronger action against repeat domestic violence offenders in order to protect vulnerable victims and prevent future tragedies.
